A FORMER Plympton schoolboy who helped to train some of the country's top footballers has died after a car crash.

Nick Broad, former head of sports science at Chelsea, died on Friday. He was 38.

The former Hele's School pupil was part of Carlo Ancelotti's backroom staff at Stamford Bridge – and followed his boss to Paris St-Germain, where he was the club's performance manager.

According to reports, he died in hospital after a road traffic accident outside Paris on Thursday.

Plymouth Leander coach Jon Rudd swam with Mr Broad when they were both members of the Port of Plymouth club and later coached him at Plymouth Leander. Mr Rudd paid tribute yesterday, saying: "I remember him being very capable and athletic.

"The last time I had contact with him was when he dropped me a line to tell me about the Chelsea job.

"He was very gentle and quiet.

"My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to his family and those who remember him."

Rob Duncan, a childhood friend, said: "He was very modest and did not broadcast his success.

"I swam with him in the Port of Plymouth freestyle team, and trained with him at Marjons pool. A nice friendly, quiet, and fun loving teenager at the time."

Steven Reid, the West Brom defender who worked with Mr Broad at Blackburn, tweeted: "Absolutely shocking news that Nick Broad has died in a road accident. Worked with Nick at BRFC. Thoughts go out to his family!! #legend."

Andy Cole, the former Blackburn and Manchester United striker, tweeted on Friday: "Just heard the news about nick broad shocking news worked with him at blackburn rovers. Heart goes out to his family."

The Paris club, where Mr Broad advised players about dietary techniques and monitored their physical progress, said: "All of us are stunned and devastated by the sudden death of a much-liked colleague, universally recognised for his professional expertise.

"On behalf of Paris Saint-Germain, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi offers his sincerest condolences to Nick's family.

"Nick, a long-standing colleague of Carlo Ancelotti, had quickly created strong and intimate bonds with the rest of the club coaching staff, the players, the club executives, all employees and the entire Paris Saint-Germain family.

"His passionate, dynamic and extremely professional approach placed Nick on the cutting edge of European football coaching and he was a key member of Carlo Ancelotti's staff.

"Nick was also a brilliant man, blessed with great human qualities and a true friend.

"He was, and will remain, a permanent source of inspiration for everyone who had the opportunity to know him.

"Nick Broad, 38, leaves behind him a family in mourning, to whom the entire Paris Saint-Germain club presents their most sincere and heartfelt condolences."

Mr Broad worked as a sports nutritionist at Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City after completing an MSc in sports nutrition at Aberdeen University.

In a 2006 interview he told The Herald: "The chance to join Chelsea was just too good to turn down."

He revealed that part of his job involved going shopping with players and teaching younger footballers how to cook.

Most of his work was cutting-edge science, measuring markers in saliva and blood to find out how well players were responding to training, or recovering from matches.